Visas are fast emerging as another front in the United States–China competition. At the heart of this contest lies China’s aspiration to attract science and technology global talent, which is increasingly caught in dilemmas and challenges. The US economy, particularly Silicon Valley, has long depended on immigration and foreign expertise. China has closely watched this trend.
As the US, under the Make America Great Again (MAGA) campaign, rapidly reshapes its visa policies, Beijing is positioning itself to benefit from the obstacles Washington has been creating for global talent.
The US opened a Pandora’s box with restrictive visa policies, including a hefty one-time fee of $1,00,000 for the H-1B visa. China’s response has been to introduce its own version—the K visa, effective from Wednesday. It is framed as more than a tool to address demographic challenges through “reverse immigration.”
It is also presented as a strategic pathway to attract top technology professionals who once gravitated to the US. Even if Beijing secures only a fraction of the global pool of scientists and technologists, its competitiveness in high-tech industries could be strengthened. As Beijing repeatedly stresses: science and technology are the primary productive forces, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force. The emphasis is on young foreign scientific and technological talent.
Washington’s loss and Beijing’s gain
The prevailing view in China is that the K visa offers an edge over the H-1B. Commentators describe it as an example of China adopting a more open attitude, seizing opportunities in the global competition for talent, and taking a crucial step in its “talent-driven national strategy.” The K visa is also framed as a form of soft power, promoting talent mobility and offering an “invitation” rather than a barrier, potentially reshaping the global landscape for STEM talent.
Chinese commentary has been explicit. One article in the Observer stated: “The US has shot itself in the foot. The timing of China’s K visa is perfect.” A piece on Baijiahao claimed: “The United States seems to be closing in on itself.” Across platforms such as Bilibili, headlines declaring “China wins, US is doomed” and “It was a stroke of genius! A nation of international immigrant talent was born!” are widely circulated.
Liang Huaixin, a researcher at the Institute of National Security and Governance at the University of International Business and Economics, observed that the K visa highlights China’s focus on young scientific and technological professionals. The policy, he argued, enhances China’s attractiveness to international talent, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence development. It reflects both a response to global trends in science and technology and an effort to position China as a driver of global innovation.
On Weibo, the mood is broadly supportive, though not without caveats. One widely shared post noted: “Every country has its own high-calibre talent. For example, Vietnam recently won an international championship, and the theoretical foundation of 5G was developed by a Turkish professor. Therefore, attracting top talent will benefit us far more than it will harm us, given our security and high living standards. However, we should oppose the immigration of so-called inferior students from lesser-known universities who exploit loopholes.”
In addition, some Chinese children born abroad have been facing difficult circumstances, and want to return, the post reads, adding, “We should not welcome these fence-sitters, who are always ready to jump ship.”
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Indians are in demand
Broadly, Chinese views emphasise that the $1,00,000 H-1B fee could deter many first-time Indian applicants, prompting India’s tech industry to focus more on domestic development, mirroring China’s earlier transition from Information Technology (IT) outsourcing to independent Research and Development (R&D). Moreover, since China’s K visa does not require employer sponsorship, more Indian tech professionals may choose to pursue careers in China.
This shift in visa policy is seen as a microcosm of the global battle for technological dominance. While US efforts to protect domestic jobs by raising barriers to entry may succeed in the short term, they risk undermining the diversity and vitality of the talent pool in the long term, creating vulnerabilities for innovation. China, by contrast, is adopting a more open and confident stance, making the attraction of global intellectual resources a core component of its national science and technology strategy.
If Indian scientific talent, in particular, begins to choose China over the US, it would mark a shift with wide-ranging consequences. Chinese discourse frequently points to the US model of innovation powered by foreign talent, and the ambition to replicate it.
China’s aspiration seems to position itself as a global hub for technology talent. This challenge extends not only to the US but also to regional competitors such as Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan, each of which has its own visa schemes to attract skilled professionals. For Beijing, the K visa may represent the beginning of a broader transformation, from being the world’s manufacturing hub to becoming the global centre for scientific and technological talent.
Sana Hashmi is a fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation. She tweets @sanahashmi1. Views are personal.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)